The most sensitive issue in this sector focused on negotiations on Malta's "national milk quota". Malta requested a national quota of 60,000 tonnes of milk to be added to the current EU quota levels. Malta's request covered 52,000 tonnes for cow milk and 8,000 tonnes for sheep/goats milk.
However, the production of milk from sheep and goats is not covered by any EU quota limits and therefore Malta's request with regards to sheep/goat milk could be withdrawn as it was no longer necessary.
On the (cow) milk quota, the EU agreed that Malta's quota should be 48,698 tonnes for deliveries, which is higher than the 45,000 tonnes in the reference period 1997-1999.